Sarah Smith

Sarah’s first degree was a BMus (Hons) at Cardiff University, where she developed an interest in music performance research. She completed a MMus in Music Performance Studies at Royal Holloway University of London, following this with a PhD on analysing and performing texture in Scriabin’s piano music. As a pianist, Sarah has performed in many parts of the UK, especially her native South Wales.

Sarah is on the teaching team for several undergraduate and postgraduate music modules, also supervising a range of research projects and lecture-recitals. Her main interests involve approaches to instrumental teaching and exploring links between performance and contextual music study. For many years, she taught piano at the RWCMD Junior Conservatoire, and she remains active as a piano teacher. She enjoys developing ideas on instrumental teaching within the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching skills modules at RWCMD.

In addition to her fractional post at RWCMD, Sarah works as an examiner for the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music, a role that has taken her to Italy, Malaysia and all over the UK. She also enjoys adjudicating in music festivals.